Europe has so much to offer, so much to see and do and one of the best things about travelling Europe in winter is that there are far fewer crowds and you can fly through the queues! But that is not the only advantage; to travel Europe in winter also means to see this fascinating region in a whole new light as it wraps itself in season cheer to keep warm during the chilly months. And don’t forget the chance to see elegant old capitals under a blanket of snow!

Book and pay in full by 15 January 2014, we’ll give you an ‘Early Bird’ discount of 10% off!

Day 1: Paris

Our Topdeck trip begins early this morning in London. We depart and drive to Dover, where we cross the English Channel to France by ferry. Upon arrival in Calais we drive to Paris, capital of France and the world’s most popular city break destination. After checking in to our accommodation we have an included dinner at a local French restaurant. Later we head into the city for a spectacular ‘City Lights’ driving tour with our Topdeck Crew. We’ll get to marvel at the renowned beauty of Paris as we pass many famous sights along the River Seine, including the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde and much more!

Travelling Europe in winter means no long queues

Day 2: Paris

Our free day in Paris gives us a chance to explore the city at our own pace. Among the city’s most famous attractions are the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, Pompidou Centre, Napoleon’s Tomb and the impressive Musée d’Orsay. For a different perspective of Paris, an optional ‘Fat Tire’ bicycle tour could see us cycling the streets of the French capital. This evening we enjoy a delicious French dinner in a local restaurant. Afterwards, we can complete our Parisian experience with a choice of two great optional activities – a Seine River Cruise or a show at one of the oldest cabarets in Paris, the famous Paradis Latin.

Day 3: Swiss Alps

A long but scenic drive today as we make our way to the stunning country of Switzerland and the gorgeous Swiss Alps. We pass incredible landscapes and fairy-tale villages as we draw closer to our accommodation. Our base in the village of Lauterbrunnen is set in a deep valley, flanked by towering cliffs from which waterfalls tumble, framed by the snowy peaks of Europe’s great mountain range, the Alps – we’re confident you’ll fall in love with it! Tonight we enjoy a fantastic Swiss dinner.

An unforgettable winter travel adventure…..

Day 4: Swiss Alps

A free day in the snowy Swiss Alps! This morning there is an option to ride the historic Jungfraubahn railway to the highest station in Europe, which sits atop the Jungfrau Mountain. At over 12000ft high it deserves its nickname, the ‘Roof of Europe’. For those who think that being 12000ft high whilst having your feet on the ground is too boring – why not throw yourself out of a helicopter instead?! An optional (weather permitting) tandem skydive over the Swiss Alps is truly memorable. The rest of the day is free to explore the numerous mountain walks. Later we enjoy another delicious dinner.

Day 5: Venice

Benvenuti in Italia! Our Topdeck adventure continues as we enter Italy. Today we take a long but beautiful drive to Venice, the city of canals and gondolas. Our accommodation is located on the mainland across the lagoon from Venice’s main islands. After checking in, tonight we enjoy a tasty Italian dinner.

Day 6: Venice

A free day to explore extraordinary Venice – a maze of canals, bridges, squares and incredible artworks. An included walking tour with our Topdeck Trip Leader will unveil some of the city’s amazing architecture, including the striking St Mark’s Basilica in St Mark’s Square. We also enjoy a ’Totally Topdeck’ included vaporetto ride on the Grand Canal, and our optional gondola ride is the perfect way to see the city.

Day 7: Munich

Our Topdeck adventure moves on to Bavaria in southern Germany. We drive to the brilliant city of Munich, where a walking tour with our Topdeck Trip Leader will take in the main sights including Marienplatz (Mary’s Square), the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) and the huge Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Our Lady). We’ll also have time to uncover the pretzels, roasted pork knuckles and the famous beer halls of Munich. Don’t leave Bavaria without sampling a German beer or two whilst being entertained by a traditional ‘Oompah’ band!

Day 8: Rhine Valley

We depart and make for the delights of western Germany and the famous Rhine Valley region, where we discover medieval castles, vineyards and the mighty Rhine River. The Rhine Valley is an area of picture-book towns and majestic views, and we can even take an optional cruise along the Rhine to savour its natural beauty and character.

Day 9: Amsterdam

This morning we visit a Rhine Valley beer steins centre and a cuckoo clock shop to find out more about these typically German products, and possibly pick up some souvenirs. Our drive to the Netherlands then gives us chance to conserve our energy for Amsterdam! The ‘Dam is a city of contrasts where bicycles, clogs, tulips and the infamous Red Light District live side by side in harmony. Just outside the city we stop at a traditional farm to see how Dutch cheese and clogs (wooden shoes) are made. After checking in to our accommodation, this evening we head into the heart of Amsterdam to see Dam Square with our Topdeck Trip Leader, and we can even investigate the Red Light District itself!

Day 10: Amsterdam

A full free day to enjoy Amsterdam. Our included ‘Totally Topdeck’ bike ride is the perfect way to tour the city, just like the locals. We’ll also have time to wander the canals or visit attractions such as Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum and the Heineken Experience. This evening we can look forward to an included dinner in a local restaurant, followed by an optional canal cruise on a private boat along Amsterdam’s waterways.

Day 11: London

We make our way to the Belgian city of Brugge this morning, where a walking tour with our Topdeck Trip Leader takes in the city’s excellent Gothic architecture. We’ll have free time here to seek out some Belgian specialities – chocolate, waffles and beer! Afterwards we drive to Calais in France to catch our ferry across the English Channel. Our trip finishes upon arrival in London this evening, when it will be time to say fond farewells to our Crew and travelling companions.

Want to get away but can’t afford a hotel stay? All you need is a train ticket and a day to spare

One of the beauties of England is that it’s so teeny tiny. Simply jump on a train for a maximum of two hours and you can spend the day in one of these top spots.

Brighton

Get there: The 8.57am train from London Bridge gets into Brighton at 9.55am. Advance Saturday return fare, £10.

Morning: Take a stroll up the Victorian-era pier, pausing to shoot some zombies or win loads of 2p coins in the arcade. Next up, scream in the haunted house or on a ride that turns you upside down 40ft above sea level, literally.

Afternoon: Get a take-out of vinegar-soaked fish and chips, make a ‘bum nest’ in the pebbles on the beach and enjoy – just beware of the food-stealing gulls. Take an obligatory ride on the Ferris Wheel and then enjoy a tour of the stunning, if confused (Indian on the outside, Oriental on the inside)Royal Pavilion.

Evening: Dodge the hen parties roaming the streets clutching inflatable penises and head for the cool and quirky Black Dove for a chilled-out drink before you head home.

Get back: Last train is at 11.37pm, arriving in LBR at 12.51am.

Cambridge

Get there: Get the 8.59am train from King’s Cross, arriving in Cambridge at 10.03am. Advance Saturday return fare, £16.

Morning: Meander around the pretty town and see how the rich folk live. Admire the university campus buildings – and its students. These teens look like they’ve stepped straight out of an Abercrombie & Fitch ad (surely they can’t be that hot and English).

Afternoon: Hire a punt (try scudamores.com) and take turns standing on the end to push it along the riverbed with a long pole. If you would like to learn a bit about what you’re seeing – or you reckon your mates will push you in if you punt – you can do a guided tour, but wait until the last trip at 5.30pm, when they halve the cost to £10pp.

Evening: Sip sundowners at the rooftop bar at The Varsity before eating steak at The River Bar. It’s expensive but so worth it.

Get back: Last train is at 11.15pm, arriving in KGX at 1.09am.

Bath

Get there: Get the 8.30am train from Paddington, arriving in Bath Spa at 10am. Advance Saturday fare, £28 for two singles.

Morning: See Bath from a unique angle and stop off wherever you fancy by hiring a narrowboat. Try Bath Narrowboats, which offers half-day hire on a boat that holds up to six for £85.

Afternoon: After returning your narrowboat, be sure to check out Britain’s only hot spring (Bath ain’t called Bath for nothing). The temple that the Romans built around it still remains; take a tour before grabbing afternoon tea in the 18th-century Pump Room.

Evening: The water at the Roman Baths is considered unsafe for bathing, but Thermae Bath Spa has siphoned off the hot waters for its pools, including an amazing one on the rooftop. Go for a twilight session to watch the sun sink over Bath’s rooftops while you bathe.

Get back: Last train is at 10.43pm, arriving in PAD at 12.33am.

Birmingham

Get there: Get the 8am train from Marylebone, arriving in Birmingham Snow Hill at 10.09am. Advance Saturday fare, £12 two singles.

Morning: With more miles of canals than Venice, take a stroll along the water’s edge, stopping for a spot of early lunch at bustling Brindley Place.

Afternoon: It’s not often we’d send you to a shopping centre but The Mailbox, formally a Royal Mail sorting office, is a great spot, plus it houses the BBC Public Space, where you can watch live broadcasts and even have a go yourself (not live, though).

Evening: Catch a flick at the retro Electric, the oldest working cinema in the UK – it even has an interval organ.

Get back: Last train is at 9.34pm from Birmingham New Street, arriving in Euston at 12.40am.

The town hosting Spain’s annual tomato-throwing festival, La Tomatina, on Wednesday is charging a fee for the first time.

Some 20,000 people from across the world – mostly Australians, Japanese and Britons – will pack the eastern town of Bunol, many wearing goggles to protect their eyes from the stinging juice, before launching into a gigantic one-hour food fight.

This year, for the first time, they are paying a minimum of €10 (£8.60) for the privilege of pelting each other with tomatoes in streets that end up flooded in red juice.

The price rises to €750 (£647) to get up on one of the six trucks that will bring in a record 130 tonnes of tomatoes.

Some 5,000 free tickets have been set aside for Bunol residents.

Organisers have cut the number of participants by half citing safety concerns over the size of crowds.

This year, the festival will count on 180 safety officials, 50 private security as well as police and organisers. Emergency services will have nine ambulances, and several helicopters.

“This is the first year we are charging for access to this popular festival due the need to limit the crowd for safety reasons,” Bunol town hall said in a statement.

“We have had a problem for the past eight or 10 years: the Tomatina is not controlled, we don’t know how many people are going to come,” Bunol Mayor Joaquin Masmano Palmer told Spanish media.

But the town also says organising the food fight represents a “heavy cost” for public finances.

For the first time, a private company, SpainTastic, has been charged with selling entry tickets to the Tomatina, sparking concern that recession-hit Spain’s town festivals may be on the path to privatisation.

Days before the festival, almost all tickets offered by SpainTastic were sold out.

Among the top ticket buyers were Australians with 19.2 per cent of the total, Japanese with 17.9 per cent, Britons with 11.2 per cent, Spaniards with 7.8 per cent and Americans 7.5 per cent.

About 60 per cent of the tickets went to people aged between 18 and 35. The oldest was 82.

Tourists also will be able to buy official Tomatina T-shirts, caps and coffee mugs.

Spain’s leading daily El Pais said Bunol town hall had a debt of 4.1 million euros and the tomato fight would cost 140,000 euros.

The mayor has reportedly said the town hall hopes this year’s food fight will bring in economic benefits exceeding last year’s estimate of €300,000 because paying for entry “changes the level” of participant.

Though the origins of the event are unclear, it is thought to have its roots in a food fight between children during a parade in the mid-1940s.

It has grown in size as international press coverage has brought more and more people to the festival.

After the fight, many of the revellers head to the local river to wash off the pulp.

Then join the 20,000 like-minded souls who are expected to descend on Stonehenge to watch the sun rise on the longest day of the year. This is also the once-a-year occasion when the the central Altar stone aligns with the Heel stone, the Slaughter stone and the rising sun to the northeast.

Why: The Summer Solstice festivities have had their ups and downs over the years with numerous clashes between authorities and revellers. Nowadays everyone’s welcome to celebrate, but there’s a hard line taken on drugs and loud music and large quantities of booze are forbidden.

Monarch Airlines fly into Gatwick and Luton from popular holiday destinations in Europe and beyond

Aer Lingus fly into Gatwick, Heathrow and Luton from Ireland, Northern Ireland and the US

Flybe is one of Europe’s biggest regional airlines, serving UK and European destinations from Luton and Gatwick

If you can book well in advance, and avoid peak times such as Christmas, you’re more likely to get a cheap flight to London. Keep an eye out for airline sales and special deals from travel agents such as FlyThomasCook and Expedia.

Travel by Coach

Although slower than other transport methods, coaches offer one of the best value routes to London. Try the following companies for the best fares:

National Express Cheap fares to London are available from more than 30 UK cities, with prices from £1

The Trainline sells rail tickets for all train companies on all UK routes

Megatrain offers budget travel to London on some South West Trains services.

Eurostar to London

Eurostar is a fast and economic rail service linking London to continental Europe via the Channel Tunnel. Book in advance for the best prices and look out for train and hotel deals. Visit the Eurostar website

Ferry Deals

The UK is well connected to the rest of Europe by ferry and sea ports have excellent transport links to London. The best ferry deals can often be booked online. Again, advance booking is crucial. See our page on Ferry Connections to London.

Budget Travel Within London

Walking is one of the best ways to take in London’s breathtaking sites. And, like cycling, it’s free! Find out more information on our Walking in London and Cycling in London pages. If you decide to use public transport, Oyster cards are a cheap, fast and easy way to access the public transport network.

Every year, thousands of Kiwis and Aussies make the journey from their sun-soaked homelands to the freezing former battlefields of Gallipoli.

For many, a night spent camping in the bitter cold, remembering the Australian and New Zealand forces who perished here during World War One, is the ultimate tribute on Anzac Day (April 25) – and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you want to be a part of this huge coming-together, there are plenty of ways to do it. You can join a whistlestop tour, which includes all the commemorative events held in Gallipoli, or take the time to explore the rest of Turkey on a longer trip to learn more about the history and pay tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives 98 years ago. Here’s everything you need to know to be part of this amazing annual pilgrimage.

Gallipoli: We will remember them: the history

“The beach was piled up with ammunition, stores, among which lay dead and wounded, and men so absolutely exhausted that they had fallen asleep in spite of the noise and excitement around them.

“Other parties were wandering about in the darkness and being directed up the hills by their officers. On the hills above there was a perfect inferno of rifle fire, and shells bursting. In fact, the air was buzzing with bullets, like a drone in a bee on a hot summer’s day.”

This stirring account of April 25, written by war correspondent Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett, gives a glimpse into what Anzac forces experienced at Gallipoli in 1915. Sent as part of the Allied expedition that set out to capture the peninsula, the troops landed to find the resistance from the Turkish defenders far stronger than had been anticipated.

But rather than accept defeat, and in spite of casualties and sickness, they hung on, making small, hard-fought advances and enduring endless setbacks over the next eight months. At the end of the year, the remaining forces’ retreat was as courageous as the fighting that had resulted in the deaths of more than 11,400 Anzacs.

The campaign may not have been a military success, but the efforts of the soldiers have been a symbol of great national pride since

On the battlefields: what to expect

Most visitors spend two to three days in Gallipoli before continuing exploring the rest of Turkey – enough time to see the main memorials, scattered at various sites.

These include the Canakkale Martyrs’ Memorial and British Memorial at Cape Helles, the Australian Memorial at Pine Ridge, and the New Zealand Monument and Ataturk Statue at Chunuk Bair.

Traditionally, campers pitch up on the eve of Anzac Day on the main battlefields at Anzac Cove, where documentaries are shown on big screens and bands play renditions of WW1 songs until late in the evening. Most people then stay awake all night. It can be a gruelling experience, but many say they wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

The following day, a bugle sounds at first light ahead of the Dawn Service – a simple but poignant ceremony. Prayers are said and the Turkish, New Zealand and Australian national anthems are sung by the 10,000-strong crowd huddled together at the foot of the hill known as the Sphinx.

Aussie Kris Chegwidden visited in 2009: “It was freezing and incredibly uncomfortable. We were unprepared for the cold, sleep deprived and emotional. When the Dawn Service began, we at least had almost an inkling of how unprepared [the troops] must’ve been for the whole situation. The best part is that the Turks, Aussies and Kiwis all respect the day.”

Soon after, the crowds make their way up the same path the troops themselves took nearly 100 years ago, more than 3km up the steep hill from the cove to Lone Pine for the Australian national ceremony, then heading to Chunuk Bair for the Kiwi tribute. At both sites, wreaths are placed, emotional letters from soldiers are read out and heart-wrenching stories about great acts of bravery are told.

Fran MacKenzie, also from Australia, went to Gallipoli for Anzac Day in 2010. “It was the most amazing experience of my life … Anzac Cove and Lone Pine were just filled with every emotion – pride and heartache that you could only sample by being there,” she said.“I felt so in unity with everyone around me. It was completely amazing.”

Exploring Turkey; Istanbul

Since alcohol has been banned at commemorative sites out of respect for the occasion, most people get their partying in early. This means there’s one a hell of a piss-up in Istanbul in the nights before Anzac tour groups head to Gallipoli. But when you’re not hitting Istanbul’s late-night bars and clubs, there’s plenty of sightseeing to do.

The Grand Bazaar is an incredible sight, whether you’re shopping or not. The covered market, which is more than 500 years old, is a labyrinth of narrow alleys lined with silver jewellery stores, sacks of pungent spices, bright lanterns, embroidered carpets and fabulously carved antique furniture.

There are more than 5000 shops along the 60 streets inside the huge two-domed building, the first of which dates back to 1455.

Also, don’t miss a walk around the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque, which is probably Istanbul’s most iconic sight. It’s nicknamed because of its 20,000 handmade blue Iznik tiles, but these are on the inside, so don’t be confused by the white and grey exterior.

Troy

The ancient city of Troy is a Unesco site, renowned for being the site where the legendary Trojan War – made famous by Homer’s Iliad – took place.

Enough ruins, such as the Roman amphitheatre and eminent walls, remain to give you a sense of what the city might have looked like in its heyday. And, of course, there’s a reconstructed giant wooden horse much like the one in the Hollywood movie – sadly, there’s not a shirtless Brad Pitt in sight.

Recommended tours

Turkey Adventure

Want to squeeze as much out of your trip to Turkey as possible? Opt for Busabout’s tour, which takes in cultural Istanbul and the Anzac events at Gallipoli, followed by excursions to Troy, outdoorsy activities in Saklikent Gorge and more, all topped off with a three-day Aegean Sea cruise.

Length: Nine days

Price: From £549ppBook: busabout.com

Anzac Express

Short on time? First Festival Travel offers a super-speedy whistlestop trip, which starts with a pre-tour drinks session in Istanbul before heading to Gallipoli the following day to take part in all the Anzac Day events.

Length: Two days

Price: From £109pp

Book: firstfestival.com

Anzac Digger

On The Go Tours also offers a trip taking in Istanbul and Gallipoli, but it’s spread out over five days to give you more time to explore the Old City and nightlife. Optional bolt-ons include an ‘Istanbul by night’ extra with a bellydancing show and dinner: great for getting to know your fellow travellers.

Length: Five days

Price: From £329pp

Book: onthegotours.com

Essential Turkey

If you have the days to spare, it’s worth taking the time to go deeper into Turkey on a lengthy tour. You can really get under the skin of the country with Travel Talk’s package, which includes a visit to the “fairy chimney” rock formations of Cappadocia and the hot springs of Pamukkale. The Anzac events fall at the end of the holiday.

The Backpacker Tour Company is now under new management and delighted to launch their new website and will soon have over 500 budget adventure tours to choose from: www.BackpackerTours.co.uk

We will find the best current deal and as we have pre-paid allocation for most tours we can often release tickets when others can’t. Our close working relationships with all local tour operators mean we can negotiate the best prices and exclusive deals for our customers— exclusive discounts not available on any other websites!

UK travel and tours can vary a great deal and, whilst it’s important that you are getting good value for money, it is equally important that you are choosing the right tour to suits your needs.

The Backpacker Tour Company is an established British company (1995) operating in London. We are commited to offering the most extensive range of quality backpacker tours of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. British Owned and Operated!

See the very best of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Europe on a budget with our Backpacker Travel Network. Choose from a wide selection of scheduled excursions including day tours to Britain’s top attractions, extended tours, jump on, jump off tours, short break weekend packages and activity /adventure tours.

No one does it cheaper or better!

Fun filled 18-35’s adventures for all budgets

Most of our tours are ‘small groups’ tours – the perfect size for the best experience. We use only recent model vehicles and our guides will ensure a memorable visit of the ‘real’ England. We challange you to travel Britain cheaper by public transport ! We offer a full telephone support service once a tour reservation is confirmed. Many of the tours on offer are recommended in the popular guide books including ‘Lonely Planet’ and ‘Rough Guides’.

Save time and money by booking in advance – don’t risk waiting until the last minute – remember most of the tours are ‘small groups’. Our ever increasing extensive links page is designed to help you save time and money in our country and our U.K Facts page is designed to offer an insight into ‘whats happening’.

Make your choice from the widest range of backpacker budget tours on the web offered by the best British Backpacker Tour Company.

The ‘Backpacker Tour Team’

Here at ‘Backpacker Tours’ we have the ultimate team to find and arrange your perfect budget tour or special event. In addition to operating our own tours we spend our days scouring the UK and Europe to find stuff that otherwise just doesn’t get discovered so there are always heaps of amazing, one of a kind trips to choose from, all available on line and on one site. We offer more tours of the UK and Europe at the best possible prices than any other tour operator.

The guys and gals here all play a huge part in finding fantastic experiences for you to enjoy and each member has his specialist area, which means you get the best experience possible from a getaway put together by someone who really knows about it! Needless to say we offer full telephone telephone support once your tour is booked should you have further enquiries or need to make any alterations.

In 2012, the St Patrick’s Day Festival (March 16-20) in Dublin is celebrated in style, with music, street theatre, family carnivals and up to 4000 performers joining the fun. The theme for this year’s quizzical parade is ‘How? What? Why?’, exploring the wonder and curiosity of science (we’re intrigued already!).

Limerick’s hot on Dublin’s heels with a, ahem, spring in its step with SpringFest, while over in Galway, things really hot up with performers taking part in the city’s fabulous leg-stretching wonder – the walking parade. In Northern Ireland, Armagh and Downpatrick pay tribute to St Patrick with the largest celebrations of the patron saint, plus those looking to embrace the countryside can also take part in the annual St Patrick’s Day walk around the part of County Down known as St. Patrick’s Country. Cork goes wild with excitement, with a fiesta of colours and flights of fancy; while Belfast becomes a captivating carnival city for the duration.

Celebrations big and small happen all over Ireland, turning the island into one, big, awesome, party, so no matter where your St Patrick’s Day takes you you’ll be treated to a delightful dose of Irish tradition and festive spirit. All in green of course.

St Patricks Day

St Patrick was an ordinary man who did extraordinary things in Ireland

The Story of Saint Patrick

Born in Wales to wealthy parents at the end of the 4th Century, at the tender age of 16, young Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders and whisked across the Irish Sea, where he spent the next six years in captivity working as a lonely shepherd. His religion was his solace, and so he became a devout Christian.

From food fight festivals to a town on fire and camel riding, tick off as many of these must-do adventures as you can this year

If you’ve just touched down in London (welcome!) we’ll bet one of the things you’re most looking forward to this year is hitting up all those juicy destinations that are now right on your brand-new doorstep.

All of Europe’s wildest festivals are just a short hop over the Channel, while within a few hours of London you can reach sizzling Egyptian desert, snowy Alpine slopes, and sparkling Adriatic seas.

And best of all, you won’t have to remortgage your house to afford to get to any of them.

So we’ve done all the legwork for you, with this handy list of unmissable trips. Now, how you fit them all in is your problem

Unmissable festivals

A two- or three-day bender at one of Europe’s maddest and baddest festivals is the ultimate opportunity to let your freak flags fly.

Here’s where to watch charging bulls, throw tomatoes at each other and get doused in buckets of wine.

Las Fallas

Head to sunny Valencia in Spain for a fiesta that’s every bit as hot as its name suggests.

Las Fallas, meaning ‘the fires’, is a pyromaniac’s dream come true, featuring fireworks displays, and ‘ninots’ – huge effigies that are displayed in the streets and then set on fire at midnight on the final day of the event.

In addition to these beautiful flaming pyres, live bands, street performances and parades are all part of the festivities, held in honour of St Joseph.

Go: Fly from London Stansted to Valencia from £55 return with Ryanair .

La Tomatina

The humble tomato becomes a weapon of war in this epic mess-fest. La Tomatina in Bunõl, Spain is essentially one giant tomato fight, where tens of thousands of combatants fling around 150,000 mushed fruits at each other, skidding around in the swamps of juice that cover Bunõl’s streets, and ending up covered head to toe in red goo.

Must be a good reason? Nope – there are a few contested explanations, but there doesn’t seem to be any religious or historical significance.

More: La Tomatina is held on the last Wednesday of August, which this year falls on the 28th (spain.info/en).

Go: Fly from London Stansted to Valencia from £55 return with Ryanair.

La Batalla Del Vino

Let’s face it, most festivals are a thinly veiled excuse to get rat-arsed, and no one knows that better than the villagers of Haro, Spain.

These guys don’t just like to drink Rioja, they love it so much that they host an annual wine battle, where they lob buckets of the stuff all over one another, glug it from huge aluminium wine bags and splash it all over the streets.

Join them this year for the Wine Battle and a night out in London will look positively tame for evermore.

Go: Fly from London City Airport to Pamplona via Madrid from £326 return with Iberia Airlines.

Oktoberfest

This mega beerfest is one of the most shamelessly indulgent festivals Europe has to offer – steins brimming with frothy amber nectar, all the hearty German grub you can stuff down, plus leather trews for the chaps and bosomy blouses for the ladies.

You can get stuck into Oktoberfest celebrations all over the world, but the best parties are in Munich.

New Year’s Day gets a bad rap as the festive season’s tail-end, best suited to slobbing out, watching bad TV and bowing to the whim of your hangover. It needn’t be so.

After a kick-ass 2012, London isn’t slowing down for a second come January 1 – 2013 is set to be as mega and action-packed as the past 12 months.

Leading the charge is the 27th annual London New Year’s Day Parade from midday, which sees 50,000 people line the two-mile route to celebrate the year that was in the city. The theme for this year’s parade is Hats Off To London – Celebration Capital of the World.

“I wanted to embrace the fact that our capital city is without doubt the greatest in the world,” says parade executive director Bob Bone of this year’s event, in which each of London’s 32 boroughs will be represented among the floats, marching bands, decorated double-decker buses and cheerleaders.

“London’s New Year’s Day Parade will take the form of a special tribute to the city and its people. I can’t wait to see how the boroughs will reflect this.”

As well as raising tens of thousands of pounds for charity, and being broadcast live around the world, the parade will feature 400 of the performers and gamesmakers who made the Olympics’ opening and closing ceremonies such a special global, eye-catching success.

“London struck gold!” Bone says emphatically of London and Team GB’s on and off-track success, which he’s keen to harness in the procession.

“The flame may be extinguished but the passion and warmth still radiates. These wonderful volunteers were the outstanding performers of the Olympics. We wanted to let them take a curtain call on a world stage.”

If you’re planning on taking a more debauched approach to your end-of-year partying, London proves itself more than suited to the task.

While NYE is the big night for most, there are all sorts of parties and day-to-night raves on New Year’s Day, so you can keep dancing all the way through to January 2 and beyond.

Ministry of Sound is hosting The After Party from 6am to 2pm, with four rooms hosted by the likes of Connected, Staunch and Trix.

Brighton party-starters Kerfuffle bring their New Year’s All-Dayer back to Brixton’s Jamm from 2pm to 2am, with underground house, electronica and techno from a host of stars, including Alison Marks, Daren Nunes, J Jeff and Tom Baker. And none other than the godfather of UK house and techno Eddie Richards will be a special guest headliner.

“I’m always happy to be invited to play for Kerfuffle,” Richards tells us. “It’s been around for nearly as long as I have and over the years has hosted many DJs who have gone on to become international names. It’s a London house music institution!”

So the new year needn’t be dictated by your hangover and the holidays shouldn’t die out with a whimper
– see in 2013 with a bang!